RESUMO
Inflammatory bowel diseases are characterized by a chronic clinical course of relapse and remission associated with self-destructive inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Active extracts from plants have emerged as natural potential candidates for its treatment. Abarema cochliacarpos (Gomes) Barneby & Grimes, Fabaceae (Barbatimão), is a native medicinal plant in to Brazil. Previously we have demonstrated in an acute colitis model a marked protective effect of a butanolic extract, so we decided to assess its anti-inflammatory effect in a chronic ulcerative colitis model induced by trinitrobenzensulfonic acid (TNBS). Abarema cochliacarpos (150 mg/day, v.o.) was administered for fourteen consecutive days. This treatment decreased significantly macroscopic damage as compared with TNBS. Histological analysis showed that the extract improved the microscopic structure. Myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) was significantly decreased. Study of cytokines showed that TNF-α was diminished and IL-10 level was increased after Abarema cochliacarpos treatment. In order to elucidate inflammatory mechanisms, expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were studied showing a significant downregulation. In addition, there was reduction in the JNK and p-38 activation. Finally, IκB degradation was blocked by Abarema cochliacarpos treatment being consistent with an up-regulation of the NF-kappaB-binding activity. These results reinforce the anti-inflammatory effects described previously suggesting that Abarema cochliacarpos could provide a source for the search for new anti-inflammatory compounds useful in ulcerative colitis treatment.
RESUMO
Objective To observe the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in colon tissues of rats with 2,4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) induced colitis and the relationship between MIF and the severity of the colitis. Methods 24 Spra-gue-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal group, model group Ⅰ and model group Ⅱ. Rat colitis model was induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS), and disease activity index (DAI) was calculated every day. The myeloperoxidase (MPO) ac-tivity was detected by biochemistry, the expression of MIF in colon tissue was detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptional chain reac-tive (RT-PCR). Results In normal group, DAI, MPO activity and MIF mRNA level were 0.51±0. 28,0. 38±0. 18,0. 11±0. 03, while in model group Ⅰ were 5.04±0.73,1.68±0. 45,0. 65±0.04 and in model group Ⅱ were 8. 13±0.71,2. 70±0. 35,0. 81±0. 05. Com-pared with normal control, the expression of MIF mRNA significantly increased (P<0.05), MPO activity and DAI also significantly in-creased(P<0.05)in model group, especially in model group Ⅱ. Conclusion The expression of MIF increased in experimental colitis, and there was a positive relation between MIF expression and the severity of colitis, which suggested that MIF may be related to the pathogen-esis of TNBS-induced colitis.
RESUMO
AIM: To study on the expansion of CD~(4+) T lymphocytes isolated from rats with colitis induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS). METHODS: The numeration and protein expression of CD~(4+) T lymphocytes had been performed by immunohistological analysis, flow cytometry and Western-blot. RESULTS: The numeration of CD4+ T cells and the protein expression of CD~(4+) T lymphocytes increased significantly in rats with colitis induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid. CONCLUSION: Expansion of CD~(4+) T lymphocytes in TNBS-induced colitis provides us a simple and reducible animal model for research of the new target of therapeutic drug.